Pacific / Cook Islands

Cook Islands Party confirmed in govt following petition failure

13:00 pm on 11 September 2018

An election petition by the leader of the Cook islands Democratic Party has failed, confirming the Cook Islands Party in government.

Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Koroi Hawkins

The Cook islands News reports Chief Justice Sir Hugh Williams released his judgment on the petition last week.

The Democratic Party's Tina Browne disputed the loss of her Rakahanga seat to the Cook Islands Party alleging the caretaker prime minister Henry Puna's declaration of a public holiday was aimed at procuring the election of Toka Hagai.

The newpaper reported Toka Hagai has now been confirmed as the rightfully elected MP for the electorate.

Ms Browne's was the last of six electoral petitions which disputed results of the June election.

None of the petititons were successful.

Cook Islands Democratic Party leader, Tina Browne Photo: Cook Islands Democratic Party